 AID AND COMFORT Where Help May Be Found Here are a few sites that offer support for current and former Waldorf students and their families. Some of these sites are more active than others; some may have ceased operations but left helpful trails. Most are free, but a few charge fees for their services. Some are open to any and all comers; some require membership to participate. I will update this list if and when I can. — Roger Rawlings
The "Waldorf-Anthroposophy-Steiner Survivors Only" E-mail Mailing List "'Waldorf-Anthroposophy-Steiner Survivors Only' is an international online discussion and support group for those who have had negative experiences related to Waldorf Schools, Anthroposophy, Camphill and other programs based on the occult ideas of Rudolf Steiner. Current members include former Waldorf School students & teachers, parents of former Waldorf students, and others by approval of the volunteer moderators. Members are welcome to share personal stories, ask questions, and express concerns — from the personal to the more global — about Waldorf education and related topics. All posts to the list are confidential — for list members only." [http://waldorfcritics.org/active/survivors.html] Life After Waldorf - A Support Group "Here we are. We are a group of women who have been together for 18 months sharing our stories, our pain, and our quest for healing ourselves and our children. [O]ur former thread [was] called 'A Safe, Healthy Haven: Waldorf Questioners/Concerns Thread.' Today, we begin anew, in a new sub-forum. I, for one, like the "Personal Growth" subforum because it makes me feel safe and that this is a protected space for healing, not defending, ourselves. Welcome to all newcomers, male or female, who need to be here, as well."
[http://www.mothering.com/community/t/683104/life-after-waldorf-a-support-group] Post Waldorf Tutoring "Helping Those Leaving Waldorf Education Rejoin The Mainstream Many parents who first investigate Waldorf education are delighted with its strengths when their children are toddlers; however in middle school, many choose to move their children back to mainstream educational institutions ... [C]hanging not only schools but curriculums, especially in the Middle School years, can be challenging for both students and parents ... As a website that is operated by parents of former Waldorf students who have changed school systems, however, we are available to answer questions you might have on how to make the transition as smooth as possible ... Post Waldorf Tutoring.com offers tutoring in mainstream subjects...." [http://www.postwaldorftutoring.com/] The "waldorf-critics" E-mail Discussion List "A free-speech public forum operated by PLANS, Inc., as an information resource for anyone interested in Waldorf education who wants to hear views from outside the cult of Rudolf Steiner. Subscription is open to the public, and postings are not reviewed in advance. Not for the overly sensitive. Typical contents include: the Waldorf curriculum. The role of Anthroposophy in Waldorf. Real science and medicine vs. Anthroposophical quack science and medicine. Sharing of Waldorf horror stories. Anthroposophists "defending the faith" against PLANS philosophy warriors. News and articles about Waldorf controversies worldwide." [http://www.waldorfcritics.org/active/critics.html] For a broad perspective, yet one offering the possibility of personal assistance, you might want to join The International Cultic Studies Association "Founded in 1979, the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) is a global network of people concerned about psychological manipulation and abuse in cultic groups, alternative movements, and other environments. ICSA is tax-exempt, supports civil liberties, and is not affiliated with any religious or commercial organizations. ICSA's mission is to apply research and professional perspectives on cultic groups to educate the public and help those who have been harmed. In order to fulfill this mission, ICSA provides: • conferences, workshops, local meetings, and special lectures, seminars, and other events • an e-library with more than 25,000 documents • a variety of periodicals and publications • personalized assistance • perspectives on how to evaluate and use information to deal effectively with problems related to cultic and other groups • support for cultic studies research • opportunities to network with families, former members of cults or related groups, helping professionals, researchers, and others interested in the cultic studies field • training and volunteer opportunities" Some activities at the Association, and some publications, have focused specifically on Waldorf education. The Association sometimes holds events such as recovery workshops. [http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/event_workshops.asp?pubDate1=2012_07_CO] Waldorf Straight Talk Quick, simple, clear — the truth. Too often, Waldorf experiences end in confusion and pain. The truth may not magically solve all problems, but it is the necessary precondition. Here, in readily accessible form, are answers to key Waldorf questions, along with links that will take you to further expositions, both pro and con. The Ethereal Kiosk Helpful discussions occur, in both English and Swedish, at this site, which is hosted by a former Waldorf student. Numerous Waldorf- and Steiner-related subjects are debated. The door is open to all, not just those trying to cope with difficult Waldorf experiences and their aftermaths. [http://zooey.wordpress.com/tag/waldorf-education/] [1] Mumsnet Mumsnet is not focused on Waldorf education — it covers a wide range of topics of interest to parents. Still, from time to time, there are extended and helpful discussions of Steiner/Waldorf issues. These come and go, depending on whether anyone posts a question or appeal that spurs responses. Participants are not restricted to self-identified Waldorf victims or critics of Waldorf schooling. [http://www.mumsnet.com/info/search?query=waldorf] Other Conversations There have also been occasional, illuminating (and sometimes not-so-illuminating) discussions on such sites as the following. Often, these conversations focus primarily on the decision whether or not to enroll at child at a Waldorf school. The chief benefit to anyone struggling with Waldorf issues may lie in simply hearing from like-minded (and not-so-like-minded) individuals trying to weigh up Waldorf pros and cons. You also might find individuals whom you would want to contact directly. In some instances, the conversations might be restarted. Mothering [http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1320337/choosing-waldorf-steiner-education-i-need-the-truth] DC Urban Moms and Dads [http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/173765.page] The Straight Dope [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=14281140] UrbanBaby [http://www.urbanbaby.com/talk/posts/53389033] The Bump [http://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/58640798.aspx?MsdVisit=1] An excellent Web site in Norway offers multiple resources in multiple languages: Norwegian, Dutch, German, and English. If for no other reason, visit it so that you know you are not alone. Steinerkritikk.no "Steinerkritikk.no is a site that aims to bring together the national and international criticism of the Steiner movement, Steiner Schools and Anthroposophy. This is an open forum for parents, researchers, students and former employees who have experiences they want to share with others, or who want more knowledge about Steiner schools in Norway. We who are responsible for the page has been both teachers and parents at the Waldorf School for many years. We found that Steiner does not emerge as a good educational alternative, but as a sectarian movement. We were very skeptical of the anthroposophical view of man and the religious speculation Steiner operates on the basis of." Other Resources Upon leaving Waldorf schools — at graduation or earlier — students often find that their education has been deficient. (See "Post Waldorf Tutoring", above.) Likewise, some students still enrolled at Waldorf schools feel the need to supplement the education they are receiving. [2] One option is to consider free on-line public schooling, for instance at K12 [http://www.k12.com/] [3] Parents who remove students from Waldorf schools may want to consider homeschooling, at least until their children are prepared to enter other private or public schools. One affordable option is provided by the Boston School [http://www.bostonschool.org/] (Centered in California and named for educator John Boston, the Boston School is not part of the public school system in Boston, Massachusetts.) Literacy is often a problem for young Waldorf students. Waldorf schools almost always postpone reading instruction until students turn seven and lose their baby teeth. Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes may help bring children's reading comprehension up to grade level. [http://www.lindamoodbell.com/] An online education site with over 3,000 videos covering an wide array of subjects — and with teacher resources to boot — is KhanAcademy. The philosophy is the antithesis of the prescriptive Waldorf approach. "We're on a mission to help you learn what you want, when you want, at your own pace." More Sites If you have come here for aid and comfort, you presumably have misgivings about Waldorf education and would like to see behind the glittering Waldorf facade. In that case, you may find the following Web sites helpful: People for Legal and Nonsectarian Schools — acronym: PLANS — Examining Anthroposophy and Steiner Education — acronym: EASE — UK Anthroposophy http://ukanthroposophy.wordpress.com/ Waldorf Awareness http://petekaraiskos.blogspot.com/ Challenging Anthroposophy & Steiner Education Waldorf Education — One Family's Story DC's Improbable Science All of these sites are, in various ways, critical of Waldorf education. There are, of course, many sites associated with Waldorf schools that praise Rudolf Steiner, Anthroposophy, and Waldorf education. They may not give you the behind-the-glittering-surface view you want, but you probably should not ignore them. Several are listed at the "Links" page here at Waldorf Watch: https://sites.google.com/site/waldorfwatch/links An Internet search will turn up plenty more. Although leery of computer technology, advocates of Waldorf education have become increasingly sophisticated in their public relations efforts. You will have no trouble finding pro-Waldorf material, if that is what you want. The sites listed above are independent efforts created by unpaid volunteers; Waldorf sites tend to be backed by the coordinated efforts of the entire Anthroposophical movement. Help Pages These are some pages here at Waldorf Watch that may provide assistance in particular situations: Help! A Little Light Reading The Waldorf/Anthroposophical movement makes organized efforts to present its vision. If you want to know how Waldorf supporters see things, just go to such centers as Why Waldorf Works, Rudolf Steiner Press, Rudolf Steiner College Press, Anthroposophical Press, and so forth. There is no organized anti-Anthroposophical movement with its own publishing houses, so you may have a harder time finding objective, scholarly, and/or critical materials concerning Waldorf education. To help, here is a reading list. It is by no means complete, but it should at least get you started. Many of the articles and books listed are critical of Waldorf schools or Anthroposophy, but some offer praise to one degree or another. I have tried to cite writings from a wide array of sources, with the exception of Anthroposophical organs. (The closest thing to a central repository among critics of Waldorf education is the articles section at the PLANS Web site, from which I have drawn heavily, and with gratitude.)
Anthroposophy and Steiner are discussed in numerous dictionaries and encyclopedias dealing with spiritual matters. Among scholars, there is little doubt that Anthroposophy should be considered a religion or even a cult. A few examples of volumes that discuss Anthroposophy in this vein, sometimes quite critically:
 [R. R., 2011.] [1] Speaking of Swedish: A discussion in that language (or is it Elvish?) appears at http://www.vof.se/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=5424&hilit=waldorf. It is quite interesting (or so I am told). [2] This was true for me. As I approached 12th grade graduation at a Waldorf school, I realized that I was unprepared for college. (I had friends who went to others schools, and I was ashamed when I realized that they knew more about almost everything than I did.) Therefore I began a concerted, private study program after school. I am aware that some other Waldorf students have made similar efforts. [For my experience — which may or may not have any bearing on your own — see "My Sad, Sad Story".] [3] For all three recommendations listed under "Other Resources", I am indebted to former Waldorf parent Margaret Sachs. [See, e.g., "Our Experience".] I have no experience with these resources and thus cannot personally vouch for them. — RR. |
